Well Cali has rattlesnakes, big assed ones - mostly Diamondbacks - as a matter of fact, they range the entire state. Black Widow spiders, Wolf spiders, Brown spiders and a couple of species of Tarantula big enough to take on small pets. Though the tarantula are not poisonous, the bite is very painful. They are large enough, and move fast enough that I've seen them scare people close to death. Most people are not used to a spider, hairy as all get out and as big as their hand.
We have Scorpions too, so shake out your shoes when you go camping in the desert.